Elephants are one of the most common animals you see in parades and in circuses. Tikiri, a 70-year old Asian elephant, is one of them. Tikiri was supposed to join the parade at the Esala Perahera where she was expected to march for days.
However, the elephant was spared from participating in the event after Lek Chailert, dubbed as the elephant whisperer, exposed a few photographs of the elephant’s shocking condition. The photos, which were shared via the Save Elephant Foundation Facebook page, revealed that the elephant was extremely thin and in poor health. Her ribs were already showing through her skin.
In the caption, Chailert explained how the animal’s condition went by unnoticed. “No one sees her bony body or her weakened condition, because of her costume. No one sees the tears in her eyes, injured by the bright lights that decorate her mask, no one sees her difficulty to step as her legs are short shackled while she walks,” explained the “elephant whisperer.”
Photo via facebook.com/SaveElephantFoundation
Photo via facebook.com/SaveElephantFoundation
Photo via facebook.com/SaveElephantFoundation
Chailert also reminded us to show no harm to any living thing. “We cannot bring a peaceful world to the elephant if we still think that this image is acceptable. To love, to do no harm, to follow a path of kindness and compassion, this is the Way of Buddha. It is time to follow.”
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